Cavaliers: Byron Scott is please with Tyler Zeller's development

After seeing Tyler Zeller up close and personal for the first two weeks of training camp, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott's opinion remains the same.

"He's basically everything that we thought: A big man who can run the floor, knock down shots, a good passer, just a good, all-around basketball player," Scott said. "That's what Tyler is. I think he'll get better and better as the year goes on."

The 7-foot, 250-pound Zeller was the 17th overall pick in the 2012 draft. He's probably never going to be a star, but he might play 10 years in the league.

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Through four games, his preseason numbers have been good: 8.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 50 percent shooting from the field.

Zeller had nine points, five rebounds and a block in the Cavs' 99-95 loss to Washington on Saturday at Quicken Loans Arena.

"He's getting a little bit more comfortable with what we're doing," Scott said.

For now, Zeller is the backup center behind Anderson Varejao. He played a large chunk of Saturday's game with power forward Jon Leuer, who pulled down 10 rebounds.

It was widely assumed Samardo Samuels would be the backup at power forward, but the 6-10 Leuer is making a late charge.

Zeller, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2012, is developing nicely.

"I'm happy from where he's come from," Scott said. "He has a ways to go. I'm excited about the process of him getting there."

The Cavs (2-2), who play Orlando on Monday in Cincinnati, are hoping Zeller becomes a dominant rebounder.

"He's 7-1, 260," Scott said. "But just because you're 7-1, it doesn't mean you're going to be a good rebounder."

His older brother, Luke, is on Phoenix's training camp roster. His younger brother, Cody, is a sophomore at Indiana.

"There are a lot of Zellers running around, all 7 feet," Scott said.

Quick shots

-- The Cavs reduced their roster to 17 players on Sunday by waiving shooting guard Kelenna Azubuike. Two more players must be trimmed before the start of the season.

Azubuike appeared in one preseason game and had six points and three rebounds. The 28-year-old has played five seasons in the NBA. He was traded to the Cavs from Dallas on draft night as part of the Zeller trade. He had a guaranteed contract of $992,680 this season.

-- It's difficult to complain about the Cavs' defense so far. They are holding teams to 39.6 percent shooting.

"We still have some room to grow," Scott said.

-- The Cavs' biggest problem has been defensive rebounding.

"It's been our Achilles' heel," Scott said.

The Wizards had three offensive rebounds in the last 53.9 seconds Saturday.

-- First-round pick Dion Waiters' defense has been decent.

"I don't think he has a problem one-on-one," Scott said. "That's probably one of his strong points -- that he's a good one-on-one defender. When the ball is out of his man's hands is when he gets lost. He's starting to understand weak-side help. It's a lot for him to process when you come from playing zone (defense at Syracuse). It takes a little while."

-- Power forward Tristan Thompson had his best game of the preseason on Saturday with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

"If he plays as hard as Andy, he can be a double-double guy," Scott said.